Monday, August 12, 2013

Review: Curse of the Pharaohs

So far, this series has been nothing but fun. Apparently, there are over fifteen books in the Amelia Peabody series. If you aren't familiar with them, they focus on Amelia, her husband Radcliffe Emerson (who is acquired in the first book), and their many adventures solving mysteries in Egypt in the late 1800's. The combination of Egyptian settings and the British language and fashions of the times add to the charm of these books, at least in my opinion. The books have just the right balance of mystery, humor, and romance... nothing graphic. The dialogue between Emerson and Amelia is always entertaining.

It's 1892, and Amelia and Emerson, who is now her husband, are back in England raising their young son Ramses, when they are approached by a damsel in distress. Lady Baskerville's husband, Sir Henry, has died after uncovering what may have been royal tomb in Luxor. Amid rumors of a curse haunting all those involved with the dig, Amelia and Emerson proceed to Egypt and begin to suspect that Sir Henry did not die a natural death. The accidents plaguing the dig appear to be caused by a sinister human element, not a pharaoh's curse.

One of the best-loved of mystery writers weaves another tale of intrigue featuring Amelia Peabody and Radcliffe of Crocodile on the Sandbank. This time the willful and witty duo must catch a murderer at an excavation of an ancient Egyptian tomb.

There were a plethora of characters in this book. I especially loved Madame Berengeria and her eccentric behavior. I would cringe whenever she entered the scene with her ridiculous Egyptian garb. I again had several theories about who the real criminal was but there were a couple of twists that had me rethinking my hunches. I was satisfied with how the book wrapped up. I am going to continue the series but I won't review every one of them since I'm sure they will all be very similar. If you like the Mary Russell mysteries by Laurie R. King, you will enjoy these as well.